530D SE GT

BMW WITHDRAWS KEY CONNECTED DRIVE FEATURE

Since new I have renewed my BMW ASSIST subscription at c.£120pa. This buys into roadside assistance, emergency button, allows me to "send" location data from Google Maps to the car, etc. No renewal reminder came in March 2016 so I phoned the BMW customer services number. They told me that telephone renewals were not available but to sign into my BMW Connected Drive account, go to the "Store" and pay online for the renewal. There was no Store option. Phoned them bachk to now be told it was a technical issue and that they would phone me when it was resolved. Gave it a week - no phone call. Phoned them again - told that a "ticket" had been raised "with Germany" and that they would phone me when the "ticket has been resolved". Emailed Customer Services to complain(the promise to reply with 48hrs one)about this as, amongst other things, I have no roadside recovery cover. 48hrs gone by now and no response. No phone call either. Customer Service?
Did some research on the internet and it looks like the BMW Assist facility has been withdrawn from 1st Jan 2016 for certain vehicles.
Why couldn't BMW told me this by phone, by email or better still in writing on the anniversary of the renewal.
Still no contact from BMW. What a shambles!
UPDATE: Luke phoned me today at 10:45. No resolution to the "ticket" that's been raised with Germany. He was not aware that BMW Assist was being withdrawn on certain vehicles. He did say however that BMW Assist only covered the ability to send map co-ordinates to the car from Google Maps and the Emergency Button but not Roadside Recovery. He further said that Internet connectivity was an extra at £80 and roadside recovery also. Asked if I could speak to his manager - "NO" he said, "they are not customer-facing"! What a weird world is BMW UK.

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